Rail clamp for loading machines



May 24, 1932. E. c. MORGAN 1,859,596

RAIL CLAMP FOR LOADING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 14, 1917 5Sheets-Sheet 1 EDMl/Afb ONO/emu, DECEASED, I O /vE E049): Muq

Exffcu TRIX.

dzgl

May 24, 1932. E. c. M ORGAN RAIL CLAMP FOR LOADING MACHINES OriginalFiled Aug. 14, 1917 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 24, 1932. E. c. MORGAN RAILCLAMP FOR LOADING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 14 1917 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3EDMUND C'.M oRqMV, uses/hen 7 Olive 2 WW W Patented May 24, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE EDMUND C. MORGAN, DECEASED, LATE OF NEW YORK, N.Y., BY OLWE EUGEN IE MOR- GAN, EXECUTRIX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAIL CLAMP FOR LOADING MACHINES Original application filed August 14,1917, Serial No. 186,118;

September 13, 1928.

' This invention relates to clamping means and more particularly torailclamps, it constituting a division of the application of Edmund C.Morgan, serially numbered 186,118, filed August 14, 1917.

It contemplates more especially'the provision of a simple and readilyassociable clamp mechanism which is particularly adaptable to rails forenabling the shifting of wheeled frames thereon, although it may beemployed with equal advantages for other purposes.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction andimprove the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is the provision of an exceedingly simple clampingmechanism having a binding effect proportional to the force exertedthereon.

Still another object is to provide a clamp ing mechanism which isreadily assembled and dismantled for instant manipulation.

A further object is to provide a clamping mechanism which is instantlyadjustable for gripping application at any predetermined position alonga member.

A still further object is the provision of a clamping mechanism incombination with a guided wheeled frame for effecting the shiftingthereof.

Still a further object is the provision of a lever in association withan eccentric to cooperate with jaws for'efiecting the instant clampingof a member therebetween.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying features of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a machine which is rendered movable withreference to the device disclosed in Figure; l. v

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the machine disclosed in Figure 4,

Divided and this application filed Serial No. 305,748.

Figure 6' is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the rearward portion ofthe machine disclosed in Figure 4.

The structure selected for illustration comprises an attachment member,in this instance a rail 10 of standard construction having the usualbase flange 11 with its inclined surfaces 12, although any other type ofattachment member may be. employed with equal advantage. In order toeffect the fixed association of a clamp to the member 10, there areprovided spaced jaws 13 and 14, in this instance two, which terminate inparallel disposed shanks15 disposed adjacent the edges 16 of the baseflange 11.

The shanks 15 are provided with aligned bores 17 which receive a rotarymember such as a shaft 18 therethrough, the shaft 18 being provided withcircular portions 19 and 20 whereon the jaw shanks 15 are journaled. Asshown, the jaws 13 and 14 terminate in integral gripping faces 21 and22, respectively, inclined to correspond with the faces 12 of the baseflange 11 to effect contact therewith for guidance by the vertical edges16 of the member 10. Intermediate the circular portions 19 and 20, theshaft 18 is provided with an eccentric 23 constituting a cammingsurface, in this instance formed integral with the shaft 18.

Rotary movement of the shaft 18 in a predetermined direction will bringthe jaw faces 21 and 22 into engagement with the upper surfaces 12 ofthe base flange 11 of the rail 10 and the eccentric cam 23 intoengagement with the lower or sustaining surface thereof, therebysecurely fixingthe clamp to the rail 10. In order to expedite therotation of the shaft 18 to effect the ready association anddisassociation of the clamp with the attachment member or rail 10, anarm or lever 24 is providedfor association with the circular portion 19of the shaft 18, it being detachably or otherwise fixed thereto ascommercial practice may dictate so that the free extremity 25 thereofmay be utilized for adjusting the clamp with respect to its attachmentmember, in this instance the rail 10.

So tha-tthe jaw 14 may be retained on the circular portion 20 of theshaft 18 without preventing the rapid removal thereof, a U- shapedretainer 26 is provided for detachable association with the extremity ofthe shaft 18. To this end, the legs 27 of the retainer 26 are providedwith inwardly projecting confronting ribs 28 which enter correspondinglyshaped slots 29 in the periphery of the circular portion 20. With thisarrangement, the retainer 26 is diametricallyslidable relative to theshaft 18 for instant disassociation to enable the jaw 14; to be removedso. that the clamp may be secured in position to the rail 10. The jaw14- and the retainer 26 may then be replaced so that any force exertedin one direction on the arm 24 will cause the base flange 11 to beclamped between the jaws 13 and 14 and the eccentric 23.

The clamp will then, be held firmly to the rail in position so that thegreater the force on the arm or lever 2a, the effectiveness of the gripwill be proportional therewith. To release the clamp, it is onlynecessary to move the arm 2a in. a reverse direction a slight distancewhereupon the clamp may be shifted along the rail 10 or be dismantledfor association in, a new position. It is thus apparent that a, simple,effective and readily adjustable clamphas been provided, and such may beemployed for varied uses as will readily appear from the followingdescription of av specific application.

The invention may be advantageously used in connection with, loadingmachineryv or other mechanism. mounted on a; wheeled frame to effect themovement thereof along a predetermined path determined by railsconstituting the traction means. In thisinstance, the loading mechanismis of. the type more specifically described in the parent applicationfiled in the name of Edmund C. Morgan bearing Serial Number 186,118wherein a forward truck 30 and a rear truck 31 have their adjacentendsinterconnected to carry. conveyor sections 32 and 33, respectively.The forward conveyor section 32, may be swung laterally, as indicated bybroken. lines in. Figure 4,, and vertically, similarly indicated inFigure 5. r

The frames 30 and31 are carried by wheels 35 and 36, respectively,carried; on spaced axles 37. and. 38,.respectively, which are journaledin side members of the truck frames 30 and 31. The wheels 35 and 36 areguided by rails iOof standard construction constituting the tractionmeans therefor. The forward axle of. the rear truck .31 is driven by-amotor 39 provided with a pinion 40 which meshes with a gear 41 securedto the forward axle 38, the motor 39 being. supported by a vertical studbolt 42which issecured to a bottom plate L3 to engage a lug 4L4 formedintegral with the motor casing 39-. Spring meansenvelope the stud bolt&3 to resiliently mount the motor 39 in the customary man- The motor 39drives the rear truck 31 in synchronism with a. forward motor &5 gearedto the wheels 35 of the forward truck 30, through suitable controllers46, to enable the device to be moved to a point where loading is to becarried on.

In, order to. shift the machine forwardly and rearwardly during loadingoperations, a shaft 47 is journaled in bearings 48 and 49 carried bysi'de-members50 and 51. A series of drums 52, 53, 54- and 55 are securedto the shaft l? which is driven by a motor 56 secured to the bed plate43 of the truck frame. The motor 56v hasthe armature thereof providedwith a pinion 57 which meshes with reduction gearing 58, 59 and (30, thelatter being fixed to the shaft 47 to effect the rotation thereof.

Forwardl-y extending cables 61. are-secured to drums 52 and 55, andrearwardly extending cables 62 are similarly secured to the peripheriesof drums 53 and 54, with. the ends thereof secured, respectively, towall jacks 63 as-at 6e, and to the arms or levers 24: of the clampssecured to'the rails 10 inza manner described in detail supra, Theinner-ends of the wall jacks 63 are pivoted togetherat 6.3 withtheirouter-ends pivoted to-blocks or shoes 66 arranged to bear againstthewa'l'ls67 of the mine chamber. The inner ends ofthe wall jacks 63 areinclined forwardly so as tovform a toggle-to force the jacks intocontactwith the walls of the chamber and thereby prevent rearward. movement.

The cables 62 having their ends-secured, as previously described,toholding. arms 24 of a clamping device embodying-features of thepresent invention, it will beapparent that rotation of the motor 56 inone direction will wind, the cables 61 upon their drums 52' and 55,while cables 62 will be unwound or. paid out from their drums 53 and 54to move the wheeled frame forwardly, Reversing the motor 56 will movethe; frame in a reverse direction so that" forward and: rearwardmovement can be selectively effected.

It should be particularly noted that the anchoring mechanism, for; theforwardends of the ropes 61 and the anchoringmechanism for the rear endsof the ropes 62 are particularly adapted to the operation of a loadingmachine in which a load is gathered by reciprocating the machine along aminetrack rectilinearly. It can readily be seen by referring to Figs. 4and 5 that the gathering mechanism 32 is provided with a bevelednosepiece68 which may be locatedinl'ongitudinal alinement with; the minetrack M- as shown in full'lines-in Fig. 4,701. shifted to the dottedline positions 69, and 70,, but whether the gathering mechanism isextended longitudinally'of the; mine track or angularly relativethereto, the loading; operations are all by rectilineanforward movementsof the gathering-mechanis1n.

When the forward ends of the ropes 6.1 are anchored to the wall jacks 63and the rear ends of the ropes 62 are connected to the rail clamps therope-winding mechanism shown in Fig. 6 may be operated so as to securereciprocating movements of the gathering mechanism.

Vihile the forward ends of the ropes 62 may be connected to rail clampsof the'type shown in Fig. 6, it is preferred to connect the forward endsof the ropes 61 to wall jacks as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, because theloading machine is of a type permitting support by means of the floorshoe 71 with the forward wheels of the forward truck off the mine track.It will therefore be evident that the range of operations of thegathering mechanism may be extended beyond the forward end of the minetrack. Therefore when such operations are extended beyond the forwardend of the mine track the forward ends of the ropes 61 may neverthelessbe anchored by means of the wall jacks 63 which may be located at anydistance desired beyond the forward end of the mine track.

- While the forward truck may be extended beyond the mine track the reartruck always remains on the mine track and therefore the rear ends ofthe ropes 62 may always be connected to the rail clamps as shown inFigs. 1 and 5. It can readily be seen that whenever it is practicable todo so it is easier to shift the positions of the rail clamps and lockthem in adjusted positions than to shift the wall jacks 63 and securethem effectively in anchoring positions.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and itis therefore desired not to be restricted to the precise constructionherein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of the invention, what isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

1. A rail clamp comprising a bar having cylindrical portions at oppositeends thereof, gripping members j ournaled on said portions and havingofi'set jaws thereon, means for detachably securing one of said grippinging transversely of the bottom of the rail for operating the clampingmechanism, and detachable means at one end of the rock shaft forenabling the rope anchorage to be quickly extended beneath the bottom ofthe rail between adjacent ties and connected to the bottom of the railfor operation by a rope connected to said rock shaft.

3. A rope anchorage adapted to be connected to a rail, comprising anactuating shaft, a clamping jaw journaled to said shaft in position toengage the outer base flange of the rail, a removable clamping jawjournaled on said shaft in position to engage the inner base flange ofthe rail, an eccentric cam on said shaft between said journal bearingsin position to engage the bottom of the rail, and a removable device forretaining said second-named jaw on its journal bearing after said shafthas been extended transversely of the bottom of the rail, and a leverfor actuating said shaft and said cam.

4. An anchorage device comprising a rock shaft, an operating leverconnected thereto, a clamping jaw journaled on said shaft in position toengage the upper outer surfaces of the base flange of the rail, aneccentric cam on said shaft in position to engage the bottom of therail, a removable j aw journaled on said shaft in position to engage theupper side of the inner base flange of the rail, and an invertedremovable U-shaped key adapted to fit in transverse slots at the innerend of said shaft to detachably mount the anchorage device on the bottomof the rail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this8th day of September, 1928.

OLIVE EUGENIE MORGAN, Emecut'r'im of Edmund 0. Morgan, Deceased.

members to said bar, an arm connected with V the end of said baropposite said detachable securing means for receiving the end of acable, and an eccentric portion formed on said bar and arranged underthe rail in position to grip a rail flange between said eccentricportion and said ofiset jaws when said arm is rotated'by the tensionexerted upon said cable.

2. A rope anchorage adapted to be connected to the bottom of a rail toslide along the same to adjusted position, comprising clamping mechanismassociated with the base flanges of the rail and a rock shaft extend-

